Bottle filling and capping machine.



H. J. CHILTON.

BOTTLE FILLING AND OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 24, 190B. RENEWED JUNE 9, 1911.

1,016,61 1; I Patented Feb.6, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Ineflnlor ltornqy.

H. J. CHILTON.

BOTTLE FILLING AND GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1908. RENEWED JUNE 9, 1911.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L WFnesses @ZKXLTZW H. J. CHILTON. BOTTLE FILLING AND GAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1908. RENEWED JUNE 9,1911.

1,016,611, Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mtnesses HENRY J.

CHILTON, or onrcneo,

ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING- MACHINE.

oreen.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Application filed June 24, 1908, Serial No. 440,092. Renewed June 9, 1911. Serial No. 632,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. CHILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle Filling and Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in bottle filling and capping machines, and r fers more particularlyto improvements construction of machines of that character which are commonly known as rotary fillers. In these machines the bottles are bodily reciprocated up to the filling mechanism and together with the latter rotate with the main shaft of the machine until the bottles are filled whereupon the latter are automatically lowered to their normal position. Itis also common practice to operate the shaft or reciprocatory mechanism by compressed air or similar gas. Heretofore after the bottles have been filled they have been delivered to a suitableplatform and then manually transferred to any suitable capping mechanism.

The salient object of the present invention is to. rovide mechanism for automatically capping or sealing the bottles after the latter have been filled and while they are still in their original positions in the holders.

Uther objects of the invention are to provide a construction in which the bottles will be either successively shifted out of alinement to register with the capping mechanism or in which the capping mechanism may be itself bodily shifted to register with the bottles, in order to accurately and automatically apply the caps; to provide a machine in which the various operating mechanisms may be accurately controlled by simple cam and valve mechanism and in which the various parts may be operated in properly timed relation; to provide in a device of the character referred to improved details in construction and arrangement of the various parts and in general to provide an improved construction of the character referred to.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my invention parts being shown in section and other parts broken away to more clearly bring out the various details of construction. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through lines 2-2 of Fig. l and looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing the curved cam track developed into a straight surface. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the cam track which controls the shiftingof the bottles to the capping device. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional .view taken approximately through lines 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the cappers. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified construction of myinvention parts being shown in section t9 more clearly bring out details of construction. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of one of the capping devices shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of cappers shown in Figs.'7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentar'y side elevation of the cam track which-controls the shifting of the capping devices. Fig. 11 is a sectional detail view of one of the capping devices shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates as a whole a suitable main casting provided with a turret like extension 2 which is axially boredto receive a vertically extending main shaft 3 which may be driven by any ordinary beveled gear connection as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Upon the upper end of the main shaft 3 is rotatably mounted asupply tank't. The upper end of this tank 4 is provided with a short inlet pipe 6 which is connected to a main supply pipe 5 supported'by a standard 5 connected to the base of the maincasting. In order that the. tank may rotate independently of the supply pipe, the inlet pipe 6 is adapted to have loose telescopic engagement with an elbow 7 fixed to the end of the supply pipe 5. Through suitable apertures extending circumferentially of the tank are inserted a series of filling tubes 10 which are adapted to extend down into the bottles'when the latter are shifted upwardly to be filled. In

order to control theflow of liquid through these tubes any suitable valve mechanism may be provided which is preferably controlled by the bottles themselves. To this end a coiled spring 11 is operatively connected at one end to the valve mechanism- (notshown) and at its other to a collar 12 mounted upon the tube 10. Below the collar 12 is seated a bell mouthed extension 13 which is adapted to fit over the mouth of the bottle. The arrangement is such that when the bottles are shifted upwardly they engage latter are reciprocated downwardly to their normal positions the valves are immediately 7 closed through the action of the springs.

Inasmuch as the tubes 10 extend nearly to the bottom of the bottles, while the latter are being filled, the valves will have ample time to close before the tubes are retracted from the bottles. The variousparts are so timed in operation that the bottles will be retracted and the Valves closed as soon as the former are filled.

Describing now the manner of supporting the bottles, upon the turret member 2 is mounted to rotate an annular collar like casting 1a which is arranged concentric with the main shaft 3, and is integrally connected thereto by suitable through bolts 15. This member 14 is provided with a series of radially extending arms 16, each of which is axially bored to provide a guide way 17 in which is adapted to slide a bottle supporting arm 18. Preferably the slide ways 17 are provided with a series of braces 16' one end of which is connected to the outer end of the radially extending members and the other end of which is rigidly connected to the collar 16" fixed to the main shaft by suitable through bolts. The position of the arms 18 within the guide ways is positively controlled by a circumferentially extending cam track 22 in which is adapted to ride rollers 23 mounted upon the lower side of the respective arms 18 as shown in Fig. 1. This cam track 22 is supported upon a series of radially extending arms 23 connected to the turret member 2. The outer end of each arm 18 is provided with a hollow cylindrical stud 19 to the lower end of which is connected a vertically extending air cylinder 20. Each of these cylinders 20 is provided with a suitable piston 21 carrying at its upper end a spindle 24.- which is provided with a disk like bottle support The bottles are adapted to be supported on these disks or platforms 25 and in order to more securely hold the bottles in position each disk is provided with a circumferentially" extending flange 26. The arrangement is such that when. air under pressure is admitted into the various cylinders 20 the spindles 24;' carrying the bottles will be reciprocated upwardly until the latter engage the filling devices, and open the escape valves of the latter.

Describing now the manner of driving the pistons in the various air cylinders, upon the annular shoulder 27 of the main casting is loosely mounted a ring-like member 28 provided at its lower side with an annular air passage 29. This air chamber 29 is adapted to communicate with the various air cylinders 20 by means of suitable pipes 36; 37 which have telescopic engagement with each other and are respectively seated in the ring member 28 and the air cylinders 20. The air may be supplied through a suitable pipe 30 communicating with the air chamber 29. Inasmuch as the annular air chamber is rigidly connected to the pipes 36 it necessarily rotates with the main shaft. In order to permit this and at the same time secure an air-tight chamber the ring 28 is held in spring pressed engagement with the annular shoulder 27. Accordingly a cover plate, 31 fits over the upper end of the air chamber and is held in spring pressed engagement therewith by means of a series of spring pressed rods 32 which extend through and are secured to an annular member 33' rigid with the turret member 2. Preferably a series of anti-friction balls 35 is inserted between the cover member 31 and the upper end of the air chamber.

In order to control the supply of air into the various cylinders 20 the outer end of each pipe 37 is connected to the cylinder through an ordinary three-way valve 38. The valve rod of the respective valves is connected to a spring pressed rod. 39 which extends through a suitable bracket 40 into the air cylinder. The lower end of the rod 39 is provided with a cam roller -10 which is adapted to ride upon a cam track 41 mounted upon the base casting 1. The arrangement is such that the spring pressed rod 39 normally tends to close the valve so as to cut off communication between the air cylinder 20 and the main supply chamber and to establish communication when the cam roller is positively lifted upwardly by the cam track 41. When the rollers ride upon its cam track, the valves are opened so as to establish communication between the cylinders and the air chamber whereupon the pistons are driven upwardly until the bottles engage the filling mechanisms. As long as the rollers 40' ride upon the tracks 11 the valves will be opened and the bottles held in their upper position. The length of the cam track 41 is such that as soon as each bottle is filled its corresponding cam roller will ride off of the track whereupon the spring pressed rod 39 will immediately cut off communication from the air chamber and permit the air within the cylinder to rush out into the atmosphere. The valve ports are of course so arranged as to permit the bottles to return gradually to normal position, the air within the cylinders acting as an effective cushion on the return stroke of the pistons. It might be here noted that the cam track 41 lifts the. rollers only slightly so as to permit the air to enter gradually into the cylinders. This obviates any danger of the bottles being thrown out of the holders by a too sudden stroke of the pistons.

Describing now the manner of capping or sealing the mouths of the bottles after they have been filled, upon the tank 4 are rigidly mounted a circumferentially extending series of brackets 42, each provided with a downwardly extending web portion 43 to the lower end of which is connected a capper designated as a whole 44. These ca .ping devices are so arranged that thereis one for each bottle and accordingly corr spond in number to the filling devices. Each of these capping devices comprises a cylindrical main body 45 which is axially bored to receive a plunger rod 46 which is normally forced downwardly by means of a coiled spring 47 seated in a counter bore 48 in the upper part of the cylindrical head 45. The lower end of the rod 46 extends into an enlarged conical shaped bore 49 which is adapted to receive the caps 50 which may be fed from any suitable source of supply through a chute 51. In order that the spring 47 may be more readily inserted in position the head 45 is made of two-part construction as shown clearly in Fig.- 6. The caps 50 as they leave the chute are held in position by means of suitable spring like grippers 52 seated in the inner face of the conical bore 49. In order that the caps 50 may be prevented from feeding out of the chute except when the latter is in register with the conical bore 49, each of the cappers is provided with a pair of horizontally extending arms 53 which together serve as gates to prevent the caps from falling indiscriminately out of the chute as shown more clearly in Fig. 5.

After the bottles have been filled the cam rollers 40 leave the cam track whereupon communication is cut off between the main supply chamber and the valve port is opened to the atmosphere. The bottles thereupon immediately return by gravity to their normal positions. Thereupon the cam rollers 23 successivelyengage the portion a of the cam track 22 and the arms 18 are bodily' shifted outwardly until the bottles are directly beneath their respective cappers 44. As soon as each bottle is shifted to this position, its cam roller 40 controlling the valve mechanism encounters a second cam track 54 which lifts the roller upwardly and opens the valve mechanism. Air again rushes into the cylinder 20 and the filled bottle is recipthat the bottle may engage the capper with sufiicient force to apply the cap effectively to its mouth, the cam track 54 is adapted to raise the roller sufiiciently to admit a full supply of air at once. After the cap has been applied to the bottle, the roller 40 rides off from the cam 54 and the bottle returns by gravity to its normal position. As each bottle moves away from the capper, the rod 46 will spring downwardly and prevent the cap from becoming wedged in the conical bore 49, thus avoiding any danger of bodily lifting the bottle out of its holder.

After the bottles have been filled, and capped they are automatically shunted onto the platform 55 by means of a cross arm 55 which permits the holders to pass freely thereunder but prevents the passage of the bottles.

In Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, I have shown a somewhat modified construction in which the capping devices are bodily shifted outwardly instead of the bottles. Accordingly the arms 18 which su port the bottle holders are integrally con ected to the main shaft 3 instead of being mounted in slide ways as heretofore described. The cappers 44 are somewhat shorter than those heretofore described and are each connected to the outer end of a sliding arm 56 mounted to reciprocate in a suitable guide 'way 57 formed in a radially extending arm 58 rigid with the main shaft. Normally the arms 56 are shifted inwardly so that the cappers 44 are-out of the wayof the bottles when the latter are shifted upwardl to the filling mechanism. In order to shi t each capper into alinement with its bottle after the latter has been filled, I providea simple bell crank lever 59 pivotally mounted at 60 to a bracket support 61 fixed to the under face of the radially extending arm 58. The upper arm of this bell crank 57 is slotted and in this slot is adapted to slide a pin 62 fixed to the face of the reciprocating arm 56. The lower half of the bell crank is connected to a vertically extending rod 63 which extends through a suitable opening in the bracket arm 18', and is provided at its lower end with a cam roller 64. Thiscam roller 64 is adapted to engage a cam track 65 connected by a bracket 66 to the main casting. The general shape of this cam track is shown in detail view Fig. 10 and the arrangement is such that when the cam roller rides into the depressed portion of the track, the bell crank is operated and the arm 56 carrying the capper reciprocated outwardly until the latter registers with the mouth of its bottle. The latter is then moved upwardly to apply the cap. After the cap has been applied the roller 65 rides out-of the depressed portion of the cam and the bellcrank slides the arm 56 back to its normal position.

While I have herein shown two embodi- .mally in alinement with said delivery tubes,

capping members carried by said main frame and arranged concentrically with said bottle holding members, means for shifting one of said members into alinement with the other in order to cap'the bottles, and means for successively reciprocating the bottles into operative engagement with the filling and sealing devices.

' 2. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a rotary-main frame, of filling devices carried thereby, sealing mechanism carried by said main frame, bottle holders likewise carried by said frame'and normally out of alinement with said sealing mechanism, means for shifting one of said mechanisms into alinement with the other, and means for successively reciprocating the bottles into operative engagement with the filling devices andsealing mechanism.

3. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a rotary main frame, of bottle holders extending around said frame, filling mechanism operatively associated with said bottle holders, sealing devices associated with said main frame, and normally out of alinement with said row of bottle holders, and means for bringing said bottle holders and sealing devices into alinement and means for operating said parts in properly timed relation to automatically and successively fill and seal the bottles.

4. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a rotary main frame, of a row of bottle holders extending around said main frame, filling mechanism operatively associated with said bottle holders, sealing devices normally out of alinement with said row of bottle holders, means for bringing .said bottle holders and sealing mechanism into alinement, and mechanism for successively reciprocating the bottles into operative engagement with the filling and sealing mechanisms.

5. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a rotary main frame, of filling devices provided with downwardly extending delivery tubes, bottle holders carried by said main frame and normally in alinementwith said tubes, sealing mechanism carried by said main frame and normally out of alinement with the bottle holders, means whereby said bottle holders and sealing mechanism are brought into alinement, and mechanism for successively and automatically reciprocating the bottles into operative engagement with the filling and sealing mechanisms.

6. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a rotary main frame, of bottle holders carried thereby, filling mechanism carried by said main frame and provided with downwardly extending delivery tubes, a series of rigidly mounted sealing devices carried by said main frame and arranged concentrically with said delivery tubes, means for shifting the bottle holders into alinement, with either the delivery tubes or sealing devices, and means for successively reciprocating the bottles into operative engagement with the filling mechanism and sealing devices. I

7. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a rotary main frame, of a row of bottle holding devices carried thereby, sealing devices likewise carried by said main frame and normally out of alinement with said bottle holding devices, means for shifting one of said devices into alinement with the other, means for reciprocating the bottles into operative engagement with the sealing devices and filling mechanism operatively associated with said bottle holding devices and normally in alinement therewith.

8. In a bottle handling apparatus, the combination with a main frame for supporting a row of bottles, of operative mechanism normally out of alinement with said row of bottles, means for bringing said bottles and said mechanism into operative alinement, other operatin mechanism normally in alinement with sai row of bottles and means for actuating said parts in properly timed relation.

HENRY J CHILTON.

Witnesses:

LOIS FORCE, F. L. BELKNAP. 

